I am referring to televsion, but my question should perhaps be ‘where do you watch the stuff you want to watch?‘ because the concept of television has changed in recent times. Nobody just sits down and watches television any more, they sit and pick something they want to watch. The old style was watching whatever was on, but now you can choose what’s on and when. In my last post I touched on this change and how the likes of Sky Plus has led a cultural change in the demand for televisual services and contributed to the start of the new web telly set-top-box market. But what about video on the internet? If it’s getting easier to pump on demand content down to a television will people still want to sit in front of a computer to watch video or slump in the armchair? I know which I would prefer.

The Rise and Rise of Flash Video

In the last couple of years Flash has begun dominating the online video market. It’s cross-platform and means producers can make fantastic media players for their website that gives them so much more interaction with their users. Compare that to Windows Media, languishing in second place with about 87% of the online market. You can’t customise the player, but it’s a lot cheaper.

Flash also represents the way that online video through a browser will evolve. Now that longer videos and feature films can be pumped to a television set the producers can focus on alternative delivery with Flash.

If your viewer is watching your video through a browser they’re not there to kick back and watch a 30 or 60 minute interview. Chances are that they are there for a few minutes of laughter or to find out some information, perhaps on something like how to make an omelette or to see what a coveted gagdet is actually like. That’s where YouTube has been very successful. But, there’s more incentive for producers than just being able to deliver a video. Flash opens doors both ways - there’s feedback stars, chapter points and so much more that can be entered into a Flash video that further gives the desktop user what they want, when they want it, but also giving the producer vital feedback on their video.

For an example of an excellent implementation of Flash video check here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/92

Flash for Desktop, Windows Media for TV?

It looks set that Flash will continue to dominate the browser-based market and there will perhaps be more emphasis of associating data to the video, resulting in the browser-based web becoming the place for video as information with the set-top-box market becoming the place for video as entertainment.

The Broadcasters

BBC and 4 On Demand have both opted for a Windows Media based system. Indeed, so has 18 Doughty Street where I act as Head of Technology. We, and I imagine it is the same for the beeb and Channel 4, are aiming firmly at the set-top-box market. However, we will not abandon the browser-based market, indeed we will embrace it and I suspect the other broadcasters will do the same. Within a year when you tune into 18 Doughty Street through a television you will have a slightly different experience than if you watch from your browser. Your television version will allow you to sit back and enjoy the show where the computer version will allow you to jump around content and interact with us in many more ways.

Join Me Next Time…

In my next post for the Wardman Wire I want to look at the citizen journalist revolution. Does the point and shoot generation pose a threat to broadcasters and professional producers? Your comments and thoughts on today’s post are very welcome and I hope you can join me, Mike Rouse, next time.